Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows 8 operating system was a bold and risky gambit, which traded familiarity for an innovative new graphically rich (some say too graphically rich) user interface. Now the veteran operating system maker is eyeing more ambitious changes, notably a shift to an Apple, Inc. (AAPL)-like track of more frequent (perhaps annual) operating system releases.

I. Windows Blue to Land in 2013?

Originally thought to be a service pack, sources at Microsoft have been spilling word of an upcoming release called Windows "Blue" (perhaps a code-name) to ZDNet and The Vergein recent months.

According to the latest rumors, the 2013 release will be inexpensive or perhaps free, to incentivize upgrades. And it will be a full operating system upgrade. In this regard, the new development cycle Microsoft is moving towards closely resembles Apple's -- frequent, cheap operating system upgrades.

Microsoft is also planning a move that may shock and upset some developers -- it will reportedly release a new version of its SDK for Windows Blue, and at that point will stop accepting Windows Store apps built on the old Windows 8 SDK. Again, this choice is a calculated tactic on Microsoft's part to push developers and users to embrace the new platform.

The new OS will also shift Microsoft's position regarding leniency for users upgrading from pirate versions. With Blue, if you upgrade from a pirated copy of Windows 8, even if you bought a legitimate copy your Windows Store and the built-in-apps will still be bricked.

[Image Source: NeoWin]

According to ZDNet, the term "Windows 9" has begun to creep into text in Microsoft employee postings, suggesting Microsoft may official dub the upcoming OS Windows 9, when it hits release next year.

Another report from Neowin suggests that the new operating system will move Windows 8 to using smaller Live Tiles, similar to those in Windows Phone 8. This would seem to agree with The Verge's sources who suggest Windows Blue/Windows 9 will be part of an effort to complete the transition of Windows Phone and Windows (PC) into a single code-base and consistent user interface. As part of this effort, Windows Phone may receive a corresponding "Blue" update, as well.

In its release Microsoft announced that it had moved 40 million licenses in its first month of sales, despite no longer offering the free upgrades for purchasers who bought machines in the months leading up to the release (as it did with Windows 7).

Of course, critics will be quick to point that Microsoft reduced upgrade fees (albeit charging more of them), did not disclose its revenue associated with the upgrades, and did not disclose how many of its licenses sold to OEMs were resold.

So its your opinion that people who were perfectly happy with Windows Vista and Windows 7 would be willing to shell out $40 for something they had no use for but decided to buy because it was only $40 instead of $99/$199?

Have you ever seen comments like "Steam sales ate all my money"? From mostly male audience.People will upgrade to new shiny thing for $40. And there is an app store. With popularity of smartphones it's a good incentive to upgrade. For only $40.And the share of tech-savvy and responsible consumers that tried beta or even pirated for a bit and saw some of the problems and potential implications of new Windows ideas is insignificant.So upgrading is very reasonable. Not very good, but reasonable.

I did. Win7 was fine for all of my needs, but 40 bucks for the upgrade and not having to worry about it for years, why not. There is no way in hell I would have spent 200 bucks for Win8, but for 40 bucks I didn't mind. I actually kind of like the upgrade performance and stylewise, although admittedly I still use the classic desktop with the start bar.

That is exactly what I did. I loved my Win 7 64 Ultimate but wanted to try Win 8 and see if it really sucked as much as I thought. Turns out it didn't, but I still have a few small problems with it, all of which I live with. The great part about it though, is that being able to use the key to active a Win 7 Pro build on a machine. Win 7 Pro x64 for $40? Yes please. I see nothing great about Win 8 over 7 accept (from what I personally use) boot times. I have 12 gigs of RAM, never noticed 7 eating up tons of RAM, always had enough. Ever try to pull up task manager? Guess what you HAVE to have open when you want to access that? Desktop. No Metro app for it, opens desktop and then task manager. If this was still $100-$200 for an upgrade and $200-$400 for a full version I wouldn't have touched it with a stick. I always get full versions of my OS (OEM/system builder). I have a feeling unless its $40 or below I won't go any father either. I may be on 7 for a while if this trend continues. Hell I have several things I can't get to work currently, java based games mind you, but stuff I can no longer access on my rig since I moved to 8. My Steam games however still work, the only reason I've yet to roll back to 7. Also, with Windows 8 Start Menu it helps. Get Aero back, boot straight to Desktop, and get my Start menu back, yes it is important to me, not everyone I know. Owned every Win OS since XP, next iteration may change that cycle.

I'm not sure now. I read a link someone posted above and it says only OEM versions can do this, it seems as though a call to MS may also have to be done. I would do more research before I bought a key to downgrade to 7. You may just get stuck with 8 that way.

Corporations including my own are lining up to get surface pro. Every sales person in america can ditch their laptop and ipad and trade up for a single device that gives them both. Clue in to reality. You can quote old articles all you want but don't quit your day job, you're clearly not cut out for forecasting the future.

... and explain how the Win8Pro tablet of today is any different than the Win7Pro tablets that have been selling for the past 2 years?!

Yep.. HP and Samsung have only added a physical HOME button and using slightly newer intel tech (with or without Win8) - otherwise, its the same hardware from a year ago... yet they are NOT mainstream devices.

You're absolutely right but users don't want to be in Windows. They wanted iPad's for the simplicity for general functionality. We have high hopes that Win8's tablet interface will be a good place to live too (once it becomes familiar). However, they will no longer require laptops as they can always drop into the desktop for real work. That's a big saving on capex and maintenance, not to mention data plans etc. Then there is carting everything around. I dumped my iPad as I got sick of carrying both an iPad and a laptop to do my job, so I went with the one that did everything. But there is certainly things I miss in the tablet form factor.

You could always get x86 tablets. The Surface Pro isn't some magical wonder device that introduces some new law of physics to attain something never seen before. It's just another x86 tablet. You can also buy convertable tablet/laptops from excellent business device manufacturers like Lenovo today.

If you look at my past opinions on technology news you'll see that I've been pretty damn accurate. This is more you can say about most of the morons who jump on every bandwagon that comes your way thinking it's "the next big thing"

Microsoft will fail if they are going to market Surface Pro as a tablet.Before iPad tablets were what Surface Pro is now and occupied similar pricepoints. Apple redefined tablets by growing smartphones instead of shrinking laptops.And I doubt that MS tablets will be as successful(read cheap) as competition from other manufacturers for W8(RT or not) platform.

The product niche itself looks promising, though. Would love to see Asus products similar to Transformer series where keyboard will play the role of a dock instead of being just an accessory.